The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is walking back its commitment to revise or eliminate an illegal rule exempting factory farms from reporting their hazardous air pollution. These requirements are essential to protecting public health and the environment.
EPA is currently accepting comments from the public about this crucial issue. It is imperative we urge the agency to eliminate this exemption and instead require factory farms to disclose the pollution they are inflicting upon the environment and communities across the country.
The public, particularly people living close to factory farms, have a right to know about the hazardous air pollution being released by these operations in order to protect their health and the health of their family members. However, EPA’s illegal exemption rule is allowing the industry to hide dangerous, invisible pollution from the public and emergency responders.
Exposure to ammonia and hydrogen sulfide released from the highly concentrated animal waste produced by factory farms can cause many human health problems, including respiratory diseases, nasal and eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and even death.
Compounding the harm, these factory farms are disproportionately sited near communities with environmental justice concerns, including those composed of people of color, low-income individuals, and children. Despite this grave harm and environmental injustice,
A public comment period is now open on EPA’s notice through February 15, 2024. This exemption is dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal. EPA is obligated to eliminate it. Now is your opportunity to tell EPA that enough is enough – when this industry releases hazardous pollution, people have the right to know when, where and how much.
